d surroundings, considerable of the picturesque
magnificence with which the native rulers delighted to surround
themselves.

"His presence, at once dignified and carelessly amiable, was not the
least vital accessory to the sumptuous abundance, to which he added the
last touch of distinction.

"A smiling cynicism, which was one of his most engaging characteristics
and an invaluable masquerade for his genuine sentiments, lingered about
his thin, patrician lips.

"His features balanced with cameo precision, and in his eyes, usually
veiled by lashes effeminately long, the whole gamut of a passionate,
intolerant nature was expressed.

"'Well, most ancient and honorable!' said the prince, with an
exasperating suggestion in his manner of appreciation of the travesty of
his words, as he gazed upon the merchant with a glance whose speculation
the latter could not determine. 'Well, how speeds thy traffic and thrive
thy caravans?'

"'Not well, my lord,' answered Ram Lal, 'not well.'

"'Ah, ha!' exclaimed the prince, with an indescribable insinuation of
biased rebuke in the look with which he challenged further revelations
from the speaker. 'That touches me nearly; this must not be; an
industrious subject may not suffer while there is a remedy at hand.'

"''Tis on that head I would beseech your majesty!' exclaimed the
merchant, seizing the opportunity provided, with such plausible
ingenuousness, by the august speaker.

"'Proceed, Ram Lal,' urged the prince, with an amiability which the
merchant had known to be a dangerous prelude in the past.

"'Great prince!' replied the merchant with the prompt obedience which
contemplates a possible reversal of privilege.

"'Nine days from home I strayed.

"'On my return I find my house despoiled of all its store.

"'And with the rest, O prince, the priceless tokens of thy high regard.

"'Aside from these, I do not mourn my loss, for it may be repaired.

"'Nor will I question fate, whose ears are dull to hear, whose eyes
refuse to see the victims of her spleen.

"'But hear, O prince--my one ewe lamb, my sole delight--my daughter
greets me not.

"'The empty halls no more re-echo to her tread.

"'No more sweet mur----'

"'Enough, Ram Lal,' interrupted the prince. 'I have heard that a needle
thrust into the eye of a bullfinch will make it sing, but I did not
know that misery could transform a merchant to a bard.

"'Disjoint your phrases a degree. You say your daughter greets